Word of the Year

A Little Grit for Your 2017Now that we’re at the beginning of the second week of 2017, I guess it’s time for me to choose a WotY, or a personal Word of the Year. Initially, I toyed with “perseverance” because I want to lose a few pounds a butt-ton of weight, keep blogging, maintain my teacher-mom schedule keep a house clean enough to avoid a visit from CPS, and build my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

I decided that “perseverance” was too wimpy. I opted for “grit” instead. No, I’m not talking about the stuff that coats my kitchen floor, my car, and occasionally, my kids’ hair. I’m talking about the definition splashed across a graphic I saw on AmericanCowboy.com.

It said, “Grit…Facing challenges with courage and strength, and working through them…no matter how difficult they appear.”

When I type in that definition, it sounds innocuous as all get-out—not what I’m going for at all. It sounds much better when it’s typed up next to a hot-looking dude on a horse with a GREAT pair of cowboy boots, a grungy filter, and #acowboycreed next to it. It made me almost want to hop on down to the Little Sue and buy a pack of Reds. But not quite…I’m healthy.

Anyway, when I consider the events of the past week, I realize that it will take a great deal of grit for some of us in our little community to keep putting one foot in front of the other, much less set huge self-improvement goals. Within the last week, we’ve buried a beautiful teenage girl, sister to a former student of mine, who had a car wreck on Christmas Day. The other night, I sat with one of my current students at the funeral home looking at pictures of his gorgeous young mother who lost her battle with cancer a few days ago. We have families battling childhood cancer. We have families with loved ones recovering from serious injuries. We have families trying to pick up the pieces after suicide. Several of our elderly have left us this week as well.

As a community we have a lot to overcome. My personal goals seem pretty lame in comparison. We have to heal. We have to wrap ourselves around these families. I know it has been said that ultimately we all walk alone in this world, but I don’t believe it has to be that way. I think grit can be shared. My hope and prayer is this: that if we have the courage and grit to grieve death fully, that on the other side we’ll learn more about life than we could ever imagine.

So, yeah. I’m all about “grit” this year.

What’s your Word of the Year? Post in the comments so we can all share!

 

This post is linked to http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2017/01/2017-resolutions/

4 thoughts on “Word of the Year

  • January 9, 2017 at 11:12 pm
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    Grit is a phenomenal word. I would never even have considered that a word – but I really really REALLY love it.
    Dig in…do it…get it done. Build around a community to heal…Always keep that tucked in your back pocket when you feel like slacking — *BAM* GRIT…go for it.
    Such a fantastic word.
    I am so sorry for the loss of such a young life. I cannot even fathom. Your community sounds like it is a strong one and I hope that your student can find some comfort in that. Cancer is a horrible illness.
    i hope that 2017 brings much blessings to you.

    Reply
    • January 13, 2017 at 8:48 pm
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      Your kind words mean so much! We all could use a little GRIT when the going gets tough! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  • January 19, 2017 at 2:35 am
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    “My hope and prayer is this: that if we have the courage and grit to grieve death fully, that on the other side we’ll learn more about life than we could ever imagine.” WOW. Beautifully said.

    Reply

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